Karabakh election demonstrates irreversibility of the process of building independent state: NKR foreign ministry says

STEPANAKERT, July 21. / ARKA /. The level of presidential election held in Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) on July 19 is evidence of the irreversibility of the process of building an independent state, NKR foreign ministry said today in a statement.

"The level of the elections in the NKR is comparable with the level of elections in advanced democratic countries, and demonstrates the irreversibility of the process of building a sovereign and independent state, our nation's commitment to the ideals of freedom, democracy and peace building," the statement said.

"With every election the people of Nagorno-Karabakh express their strong will to continue this road; the return of Nagorno-Karabakh to past is impossible. In this regard, we consider it necessary to emphasize that participation in elections and the formation of government through free and fair elections is one of the fundamental rights enshrined in international law, and their ignorance and denial is a flagrant violation " the statement says.

The statement says that speculations that the elections may hinder the resolution of Karabakh-Azerbaijani conflict are unfounded and pursue propaganda goals.

"In settling the conflict the determining factor is the will of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is fully recognized by the international community and the mediators. The development of democracy is the fundamental basis of nation-building in Nagorno-Karabakh and is in the interest of the civilized world community," the statement said.

The statement says also more than 70 percent of nearly 100,000 eligible voters turned out to decide between three candidates: incumbent President Bako Sahakyan; National Assembly member and former deputy minister of defense Vitaliy Balasanyan; and academic Arkady Soghomonyan. 

According to preliminary results released by the NKR Central Electoral Commission Bako Sahakyan received more than 66 percent of the vote and was thus reelected to a second term. Vitaliy Balasanyan polled more than 32 percent and Arkady Soghomonyan less than one percent. More than 80 international observers from two dozen countries, including Armenia, Argentina, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, the United States of America, Uruguay monitored the parliamentary elections in Artsakh widely covered by local and world media. -0-